THE CREATIVE HABIT by Twyla Tharp
Michelle Styles is horrible in that she keeps me spending my book budget. Of course she will, in turn, blame this on Anne McAllister. I'm not sure if it was Anne who suggested this one or Kate Hardy, but whoever it was, thank you.
This book makes a lot of sense, not about the craft of writing but about the technique of being creative and how forming habits frees creativity. I can't recommend it enough to those who write, paint, dance....even in business. Habit can really up your productivity.
Some of my favourite quotes:
"Solitude is an unavoidable part of creativity. Self-reliance is a happy by-product."
"Metaphor is our vocabulary for connecting what we're experiencing now with what we have experienced before."
"Without passion, all the skill in the world won't life you above craft. Without skill, all the passion in the world will leave you eager but floundering. Combining the two is the essence of the creative life."
"Sometimes you can't identify a good idea until you've considered and discarded the bad ones."
Most of all though, her last page really resonated with me. She relates to the reader what happened on 9/11 and how she called all her dancers and told them they didn't need to come to rehearsal the next day. Every one of them showed up. What stayed with all of them was the instinct to dance. She says "even in the worst of times, such habits sustain, protect, and, in the most unlikely way, lift us up. I cannot think of a more compelling reason to foster the creative habit."
Neither can I. I began writing my first novel shortly after 9/11 because I was searching for just this habit to accomplish exactly this thing. Creativity got me through and opened up a whole new world that became a career.
Donna
FALLING FOR MR DARK AND DANGEROUS, Romance, August 08, Aus/NZ Sept. 08
THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS, Romance, January 09
HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE, Romance, June 09
http://www.donnaalward.com
http://www.donnaalward.blogspot.com
Twyla
This is a terrific book, Donna. She got me on the bit about "turning up" each morning. I need to go and read it again!
100 ARABIAN NIGHTS
http://www.lizfielding.com
http://lizfielding.blogspot.com
Guilty!
It was me (I?), Donna. And I re-read it frequently. Like Liz, I find "turning up in the morning" to be the most powerful part of the whole exercise. When Twyla said that the ritual was the cab, I knew exactly what she meant.
It's never the grand stuff we all like to extol as a part of our creativity. It's never the flashes of inspiration or the brilliant plot twist of the multi-layered characterization. It's the cab. The daily grind. The being there. Because if you aren't -- none of that other stuff ever happens.
Glad Michelle pointed you toward the book!
Anne
website ~ blog
One-Night Love Child, Harlequin Presents, March 08, HM&B Modern, April 08
Antonides' Forbidden Wife, HM&B Modern, November
Anne and Liz...yes that was
Anne and Liz...yes that was it for me too. And that's why when my routine is turned upside down i have a hard time. It usually goes, pack lunches, get dh out the door, take my cup of coffee and answer e-mails. Get kids to school, come home, coffee gone, open document.
It is a very good book. Now my sister has sent me back with 3 historicals I've been DYING to read, like my tbr wasn't already big enough! LOL
Donna
FALLING FOR MR DARK AND DANGEROUS, Romance, August 08, Aus/NZ Sept. 08
THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS, Romance, January 09
HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE, Romance, June 09
http://www.donnaalward.com
http://www.donnaalward.blogspot.com